Zach, alcoholic. I spent 14 years drinking and “partying,” literally killing myself. In April 2018, I landed two 5150’s in back-to-back weeks, detoxed, drank even more and finally said “I need help.” On April 19, 2018, I walked into Socorro and have been sober...
It took me a long time, and a lot of hard work, to become the man I had become. I’m not sure that I could even call that person a man. I’m not sure where I got my idea of what cool was, but I know...
In 1998, Marlene asked me if I would be willing to start a new group for the clients of CRI-Help. Since I was finishing up my MA in Pastoral Theology, I started what became the Spiritual Exploration group. Two years later, she asked me if...
It was a hot day in July of 1981 and I had been at CRI-Help for about 3 months. It was lunchtime and like clockwork, the technician on duty stood outside the dormitory and bellowed for us to come downstairs for chow. Back then, the...
Hello, my name is Marlene and “I am an addict”. I learned those words many years ago, and I think that it is one of the most profound statements I have ever made. When I came to CRI-Help, in July of 1971, the program had...
Just over twenty years ago, on July 4, 2000, I walked through the side gate of CRI-Help, after paroling from CIW. I was first introduced to CRI-Help, while serving a year violation. A wonderful man by the name of Wallace R. came to a Treatment Provider...
AND NOW FROM THE ALUMNI CLUB (TAKEN FROM THE DECEMBER 1972 ISSUE, MISTAKES AND ALL) It was about 19 months ago I kind of stumbled into CRI-HELP'S office and had a long talk with Bill and decided that I'd give it a try since in all the times I...
On May 1, 1971, CRI-Help, Incorporated opened its doors in two run down houses in Sun Valley, California. It wasn’t until December of 1972, that we were able to lease and move into our present location in North Hollywood, which gave us 64 beds for men and women. In...
By Joshua Fierro (Class of 2019) Let me start off by saying that I wasn’t always a convicted felon. I once had somewhat of a normal life. By normal, I don’t mean perfect by any means. I come from a family of addicts. I was born and...
By Brandon Fernandez (Class of 2013) When I flew to LA in 2013 – yet another geographic to try and get clean, again – my best friend Dustin told me, “Brandon, you realize wherever you go, you are taking the problem with you.” Obviously, the problem...